A Jackson man charged with crashing his motorcycle Saturday night and leaving his dying fiancee on the pavement has a history of criminal flight and violence.

Richard D. Pickett, 48, has served at least four prison sentences totaling about 20 years, according to Department of Corrections records. He was released May 2 after serving six years for third-degree fleeing police.

Richard D. Pickett

Pickett was arraigned Monday on a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal crash that killed 50-year-old Bonnie Lynn Arnett. It is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Pickett remained in jail Monday on a $100,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Friday.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Blumer said before the arraignment that he was to seek a large bond, citing Pickett's extensive criminal past and the presumption Pickett fled to avoid police rather than assist his mortally injured mate.

Jackson County sheriff's investigators and prosecutors allege Pickett might have been drinking Saturday night before crashing his 1982 Yamaha Virago on the exit ramp from southbound U.S. 127 to McDevitt Avenue.

Witnesses said Pickett was lying on the shoulder of the road and Arnett was lying in the road at 10:41 p.m. Pickett called to Arnett and, when she did not respond, got on his damaged bike and rode away, the witnesses said.

"He asked the two citizens to help him pick it up and they told him not to touch the bike," Blumer said.

Arnett died shortly after she arrived by ambulance at the Allegiance Health emergency room, deputies reported. The Jackson County Medical Examiner concluded she died of blunt-force trauma to her head and neck.

Both Arnett and Pickett wore helmets.

Pickett showed up at the emergency room about noon Sunday, claiming he was hurt in an industrial accident. Medical personnel alerted deputies, who eventually learned he had crashed his motorcycle.

Blumer said Pickett initially told deputies he left the scene to get his car to transport Arnett, and then said he left to get a cell phone. The first motorist on the scene called 911 by cell phone, Blumer said.

If Pickett was drunk, he likely sobered up in the 14 hours between the crash and going to the hospital, Blumer said.

"It would have been impossible to prove he was driving drunk," Blumer said.

Pickett has spent much of his adult life living behind bars.

His convictions since 1980 have included assaults with dangerous weapons, larceny, breaking and entering, and fleeing or resisting police at least four times in Michigan.

Blumer said Pickett also has felony convictions in Texas, Indiana and Ohio.